RISE Martial Arts Academy LLC

"I joined the RISE Martial Arts Academy two years ago in March of 2016. I wrote an initial review of Rise and throughout the two years that I have attended the school I have seen so much positive growth and change that I knew I had to revise my review. Ever since I started, this dojo has been a 5-star establishment and Sensei Nils has constantly raised the bar to continually make RISE a better martial arts learning environment. I would strongly recommend RISE to anyone who is: already athletic, wants to become athletic, looking for a small learning environment, wants a fun/social/serious training area (those three things don't sound like they should fit together, but at RISE, all three elements are present), and wants to learn an array of different martial arts. One of my favorite aspects about RISE is that it is a non-traditional school where a mix of regular Karate, TaeKwondo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, self-defense, and more are employed in the teaching. If you just want to learn karate to get different colored belts in quick succession and learn flashy moves, this place is not for you. Though if you go and are committed to giving your all, you will quickly learn skills that will be able to help you in real-life conflict and dangerous situations. Lastly, while the material itself is perfect for quick learning and real-life, the dojo would be nothing without its Sensei. With Sensei Nils you can tell right from the start that he's passionate about his work and his sole purpose there is to spread his love and knowledge of martial arts to his students. He is charismatic, supportive, and fun to learn from, whether you are a 5 year old like my little brother (currently attending the little kids classes) or a 20 year old (like myself), or an older individual, attending the adult classes. Over the last two years, Sensei Nils has moved next door into a larger training facility, has streamlined the enrollment system, has added in cardio kickboxing, has improved the efficiency of his teaching, and has continued to grow his brand name with satisfied customers, better marketing, and stylish merchandise. The Rise Martial Arts Academy is a place where people of all ages and all skill levels can come to enjoy themselves, forge new bonds of friendship, gain strength, acquire confidence, learn discipline, and really work at bettering yourself in many ways that transcend past fighting. It is a place where you can feel proud to wear the name and I can think of no other place I'd rather be than RISE. You're probably doubtful of everything I've said on just an internet review, so I guess my best advice for you now is to check it out for yourself and find out firsthand whether you think RISE is the amazing and one of a kind place that I do."

"Rise Martial Arts and Sensei Nils were a great find for my son. They are teaching him to stay focused, be respectful, always do your best, all while having a great time. My son has stayed motivated and enjoys going every week to keep earning towards his next stripe. The lessons learned here will be with my son all through his future."

"I wanted my 6 year old to try his hand at karate so I look around to see what was out there. After an informative phone conversation with Nils Johnson I decided to try out Rise. I really hadn't had much exposure to martial arts so I wasn't sure what to expect. Sensei Nils began with a one-on-one trial class to get to know my son a bit. He was very patient as he taught him some of the basic first moves. I was impressed with how well he held my son's attention! We decided to make it official and started my son on the Little Dragons program. He took to it very quickly and enjoys his classes. Sensei Nils is an awesome teacher! He is very patient and lets kids be kids for a bit, then he cleverly reigns them back into the lesson. He mixes fun into his classes and is never negative with them - he is a constant positive force and the kids really respond to him! So far my son has earned his gold belt and is very proud of his accomplishments. From our experience I believe that people can learn a lot from attending these classes. Not only about different moves, muscle development and control. But also about self discipline and being a positive leader to others. I've recommended Rise to many people in conversation, but realized it was high time to do so in writing. I highly recommend Sensei Nils and Rise Martial Arts!"

"Our family feels very fortunate to have found RISE Martial Arts. Our daughter has not only learned technical mixed martial arts/self defense skills, but her confidence has grown tremendously and she is very proud of her accomplishments. It has changed her life. Sensei Nils artfully allows fun while continuing to instill the importance of respect, discipline, excellence, and achievement. He takes the time to understand each student and work with them to bring out their best. We have tried other local martial arts classes, but found everything we were looking for at RISE!"

"I have a five year old son who attends RISE and I am beyond thankful to have found Sensei Nils!!! My boy has a LOT of energy and this is great for after school!!! Overall, I could not be happier that my son attends! Nils is a great teacher who takes the time (& patience) to really get to know his students. He is down to earth, friendly, and very, very knowledgeable about what he teaches! Not only does he teach the technique and proper skill, but he also instills confidence, self-worth, and respect. It's not just about the martial arts, but life lessons too! I have seen the interaction between Sensei and my son, but also watched some other classes as well. Doesn't matter if the student is 5 or 55 - I see smiles on the student’s faces!!! I should also mention how supportive other students are. Often when my son's lesson is almost over, other students are coming in for the next lesson; they are supportive, cheer on, & congratulate!! Sensei Nils has created a great, supportive community of students and friends at RISE. Great teacher, great location, warm environment, smiling faces, and one very happy dad here. If you (or you kids) are at all curious about martial arts - check this place out! Trust me when I say going to your first "Board Breaking Night" and see your five year old demolish those wooden boards, and the smile on his face - you will understand why I wrote this review!! I want to hit home one last point, especially coming from the perspective of the father of a five year old boy: Sensei Nils drives home self-worth, self-respect, and respect for others! RISE isn't about learning to punch. RISE is learning about WHY not to punch! I couldn't ask for much more for my five year old boy!!!!! Phil G."